8 Ways to Pull Off A Preppy Wedding

Your Style

Photo by Elisa B Photography / The Knot

You're always put-together in an understated way, and ideally your wedding decor will be the same. Low-key and fun-loving, you’re all about function and comfort when it comes to getting dressed and decorating your home. But that doesn’t mean you don’t want to look elegant -- that’s why you rely on a sporty, preppy style. Think: bright colors, classic lines and versatile fabrics and cuts.

The Setting

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Rent out a private club, resort, restaurant or yacht club near the water, or stage your event on a nearby beach to create a crisp, clean backdrop for all your playful wedding elements.

Wedding Wear

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Go for a gown with preppy details, such as a bow at the natural waistline or a demure bateau neckline.

Best Blooms

Choose flowers based on the ones that are available in your wedding colors for an elegant way to add color. Or go with bright linens topped with all-white arrangements.

The Decor

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It's all about the motif with this style of wedding. And just about anything can work as one. Use a cute, bright-red lobster for a wedding by the bay; stripes or polka dots for a playful country-club wedding; or his and hers silhouettes for more of a modern hotel setting. Just don’t smother your day in matchy-matchy details. Instead, pick and choose where to use your wedding motif, like on your cake and invites, and keep the rest of the details toned down. “Everything doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy -- be so chic as to mix things up,” says wedding designer Joyce Scardina Becker of Events of Distinction in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Texture is key to creating a warm, intimate atmosphere. Drape the ceiling with fabric, wash the walls with light and top your tables with overlays that match your palette. Go for centerpieces that are low to the table to promote conversation and to bring a nice, lush element. We know you want your wedding to be pretty -- take it up a notch by adding extra chandeliers to the trees if it's outdoors, ordering up a tall-tiered cake or getting two incredible floral displays to add interest to your space.

The Music

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Go with a traditional wedding band or DJ playing the classic wedding songs you love to dance to (from Journey to Michael Jackson).

The Menu

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Have a mixologist on hand to custom-blend signature cocktails, and set up a dessert buffet for guests. Focus on the food and drink and the table settings. Have some courses served family-style and others served tableside. If you can, splurge on tableside wine pairings with each course.